Method for Manufacturing Smoking Articles and Smoking Articles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for making smoking articles, smoking articles, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing smoking articles having a reduced ignition propensity. A method of manufacturing a smoking article includes the steps of providing a filter element ( 40 ) and at least one rod ( 30 ) of smokeable material surrounded by a wrapper, wrapping a section of tipping paper ( 12 A) around the filter element and a portion of the at least one wrapped rod and applying one or more patches ( 12 B 1, 12 B 2 ) of material to the outer surface of the wrapper. The patches can be arranged to reduce the ignition propensity of the smoking article and are applied to the outside of the wrapper, such that this can occur online during manufacture of the wrapped rod.

1 . A method of manufacturing a smoking article comprising:
 providing a filter element and at least one rod of smokeable material surrounded by a wrapper;   wrapping a section of tipping paper around the filter element and a portion of the at least one wrapped rod; and   applying one or more patches of material to the outer surface of the wrapper;   wherein applying the one or more patches of material to the wrapper of the at least one wrapped rod is performed in association with wrapping the section of tipping paper around the filter element and an end of the at least one wrapped rod.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more patches comprise one of a low porosity and non porous web material.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more patches comprise a web material having a permeability of about 50 CU or less.   
     
     
         5 . A method of manufacturing a smoking article comprising:
 providing a filter element and at least one rod of smokeable material surrounded by a wrapper;   wrapping a section of tipping paper around the filter element and a portion of the at least one wrapped rod; and   applying one or more patches of material to the outer surface of the wrapper;   wherein the one or more patches are bands applied around the full circumference of the at least one wrapped rod; and   wherein each band is applied such that the mouth-end side of the band is within the 50% of the length of the rod which is closest to the filter element.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the application includes applying a second band to each rod simultaneously to the application of the first band.   
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing a smoking article comprising:
 providing a filter element and at least one rod of smokeable material surrounded by a wrapper;   wrapping a section of tipping paper around the filter element and a portion of the at least one wrapped rod; and   applying one or more patches of material to the outer surface of the wrapper;   wherein the one or more patches are bands applied around the full circumference of the at least one wrapped rod;   wherein the application includes applying a second band to each rod simultaneously to the application of the first band; and   wherein the second band is applied such that the mouth-end side of the second band is within the 50% of the length of the rod which is furthest from the filter element.   
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing a smoking article comprising:
 providing a filter element and at least one rod of smokeable material surrounded by a wrapper;   wrapping a section of tipping paper around the filter element and a portion of the at least one wrapped rod; and   applying at least one patch of material to the outer surface of the wrapper;   wherein the at least one patch comprises a patch having a window which exposes a region of the outer surface of the wrapper.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein said at least one patch comprises a plurality of said windows.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein said patch extends substantially from an edge of the tipping paper to an end of the rod of smokeable material which is furthest from the filter.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the providing comprises first and second rods of smokeable material surrounded by wrappers, and the filter element interposed between the first and second rods, and   wherein the method further comprises cutting the filter element to form two smoking articles after application of the one or more patches.   
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing a smoking article comprising:
 providing a filter element and at least one rod of smokeable material surrounded by a wrapper;   splitting tipping paper from a roll to form patches, and a section to be applied to around the filter element and a portion of the at least one wrapped rod;   wrapping the section of tipping paper around the filter element and the portion of the at least one wrapped rod; and   applying one or more patches of material to the outer surface of the wrapper.   
     
     
         14 . A smoking article comprising:
 a rod of smokeable material surrounded by a wrapper;   a filter element at one end of the wrapped rod;   a tipping paper surrounding the filter element and a portion of the wrapped rod; and   a patch of material applied to the outer surface of the wrapper;   wherein the patch comprises a window which exposes a region of the outer surface of the wrapper.   
     
     
         15 . The smoking article according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the patch comprises one of a low porosity and non porous web material.   
     
     
         16 . The smoking article according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the patch comprises a web material having a permeability of about 50 CU or less.   
     
     
         17 . The smoking article according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the patch is a band applied around the full circumference of the wrapped rod.   
     
     
         18 . The smoking article according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the band is spaced from an edge of the tipping paper.   
     
     
         19 . The smoking article according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the band is at least 4 mm wide.   
     
     
         20 . The smoking article according to  claim 19 ,
 wherein the band is at least 6 mm wide.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The smoking article according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the patch comprises a plurality of said windows.   
     
     
         23 . A smoking article comprising:
 a rod of smokeable material surrounded by a wrapper;   a filter element at one end of the wrapped rod;   a tipping paper surrounding the filter element and a portion of the wrapped rod; and   a patch of material applied to the outer surface of the wrapper;
 wherein the patch is a band at least 4 mm wide applied around the full circumference of the wrapped rod; and 
 wherein the patch extends substantially from an edge of the tipping paper to an end of the rod of smokeable material which is furthest from the filter. 
   
     
     
         24 . A smoking article comprising:
 a rod of smokeable material surrounded by a wrapper;   a filter element at one end of the wrapped rod;   a tipping paper surrounding the filter element and a portion of the wrapped rod; and   a patch of material applied to the outer surface of the wrapper;   wherein the material is the same as the tipping paper.